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Post by manfromplanetx on Jul 26, 2017 23:47:03 GMT
A tanú , The Witness (1969) Hungary directed by Péter Bacsó Highly Recommended Known and regarded as the best satire about communism 'The Witness' has achieved unparalleled cult status in its native homeland. Banned for over a decade for its outspoken criticism of the post-WWII communist regime in Hungary, it is a wonder that the authorities allowed this brilliant and daring film to be made at all. Set in the 1950s, the film portrays in a satiric tone a corrupt and deceitful political system of government. The main protagonist, Joszef Pelikan, who is “ideologically ill-defined”, is the warden of a section of the banks of the Danube. Joszef is a simple man; his wife left him for someone else and he lives in a small wooden house with his many children. He unquestionably goes along with the system. By chance he saved a government minister who has become his personal friend . His life up to this point had been flowing peacefully much like the river, until that fateful day he gets caught up in the political machinations, becoming involved in a series of political missions and schemes.
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Post by london777 on Jul 26, 2017 23:48:54 GMT
The Prisoner (1955) Peter Glenville loosely based on the Cardinal Mindszenty trial but more existentialist in tone. Alec Guinness plays the cardinal but Jack Hawkins has the more interesting role as his anguished idealist interrogator.
Ashes and Diamonds (1958) Andrej Wajda deals with the struggle between the two resistance armies, right-wing and socialist, to profit from the Nazi collapse in Poland.
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Post by london777 on Jul 27, 2017 0:03:29 GMT
A tanú , The Witness (1969) Hungary directed by Péter Bacsó Highly Recommended ... it is a wonder that the authorities allowed this brilliant and daring film to be made at all. The Hungarian regime (after Stalin) was never as ideologically consistent as in the other satellites. Lots of different ideologies were tolerated and individual initiatives were permitted. It was known as "Goulash Communism" after the national stew in which almost any old ingredients could be added to the mix, in this case liberalism, capitalism, trotskyism, anarchy, etc. Though sometimes those who pushed their luck came unstuck.
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Post by manfromplanetx on Jul 27, 2017 0:34:54 GMT
Utomlennye solntsem , Burnt by the Sun (1994) Brilliant Russian film directed by and starring Nikita Mikhalkov. The highly acclaimed film received the Grand Prix at the 1994 Cannes Film Festival, and the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Russia, 1936, legendary revolutionary hero of the Russian Civil War and senior Old Bolshevik, Colonel Kotov is very popular with the common people and local villagers. he is spending an idyllic summer in his home village with his young wife and six-year-old daughter Nadia and other assorted family and friends. Breaking this wonderful idyllic mood is the surprise arrival of Mitya, an ex-nobleman and veteran of the anti-communist White Army. Mitya now works for the Soviet political police, or NKVD. he has arrived to arrest Kotov for a non-existent conspiracy... An intensely harrowing political thriller which focuses on the Stalin era "Great Purge" 1936-38. A dark chapter of political repression in Soviet Union history, the purge was indiscriminate, targeting the repression of peasants the Red Army leadership, judges & academics.. Widespread police surveillance, suspicion of "saboteurs" and "counter-revolutionaries" lead to deaths and imprisonment. It is estimated that 600,000 died during Stalin's political purge...
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Post by manfromplanetx on Jul 27, 2017 0:50:08 GMT
1900 The Conformist....in fact most Bertolucci stuff has a political point of view. The Dismissal - a great Aussie TV mini-series about the events of 1975 when a democratically elected government was sacked through a quirk of the constitution. In many other countries of the world there would have been a civil war. The Dismissal is a great local call, Old Aussie, which brings to my mind the great 1976 political themed Australian Classic from Bruce Beresford. Don's Party tells the tale about a wild election night house party in a suburban Australian neighbourhood. Friends gather to watch the election results, they drink and carry on, Being the year is 1969 some of Don's friends have jumped on the bandwagon of sexual freedom and experimentation. However, others at the party are more conservative about their politics and sex, and naturally, arguments break out over politics... Election night at Don's...
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Post by jeffersoncody on Jul 27, 2017 5:35:57 GMT
In all its permutations. A few of my favorites: Reds (1981) The Queen (2006) The Best Man (1964) Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) All the President's Men (1976) Seven Days in May (1964) The Manchurian Candidate (1962) Julius Caesar (1954) The Leopard (1963) THE CONTENDER (2000). A WORLD APART (1988). CRY FREEDOM (1987) INVICTUS (2009). GAME CHANGE (2012) MTV.
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Post by Jillian on Jul 27, 2017 9:55:00 GMT
Evita Billy Elliot Hair The Sound of Music Miss Saigon
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Post by teleadm on Jul 27, 2017 17:38:42 GMT
A tanú , The Witness (1969) Hungary directed by Péter Bacsó Highly Recommended I came to think of another Hungarian film, Szabadság, szerelem / Children of Glory 2007.
The movie takes place both in Budapest and at the Melbourne Olympics 1956 during the Hungarian revolution and Freedom Fight, with Soviet tanks invading Budapest, at the same time Hungary and Soviet meets in the Water Polo final. It became the bloodiest and most emotional Water Polo final ever.
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Post by manfromplanetx on Jul 28, 2017 21:55:02 GMT
The Years Between (1946) Directed by Compton Bennett. Michael Redgrave and Valerie Hobson star in an engaging adaptation of a 1945 play from Daphne du Maurier. Missing presumed dead in war time action is British MP Michael Wentworth (Redgrave). His wife Diana (Hobson) at first reluctant, is persuaded to take his seat in the House of Commons and continue his political legacy... An enjoyable multi layered film that touches on issues of politics, war/family relationships , women in politics ... and above all else, it has, Valerie Hobson ... Diana Wentworth being sworn in as a Member of Parliament...
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Post by fangirl1975 on Jul 29, 2017 0:37:17 GMT
The Manchurian Candidate
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Post by bravomailer on Jul 29, 2017 0:55:52 GMT
No mention of Advise and Consent yet? Laughton does a fine job as southern pol Seabright Cooley. His last movie.
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Post by london777 on Jul 29, 2017 1:34:37 GMT
No mention of Advise and Consent yet? Mentioned in the second post in this thread by Old Aussie
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Post by bravomailer on Jul 29, 2017 1:45:22 GMT
Oops. I must have messed up when I searched for "advise" on each page of the thread.
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Post by Jillian on Jul 29, 2017 7:42:37 GMT
Hidden Figures
The Help
12 Years a slave
Black Mass
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Post by london777 on Jul 30, 2017 14:45:28 GMT
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Post by koskiewicz on Jul 30, 2017 17:42:03 GMT
Viva Zapata
Pancho Villa
The Life of Emile Zola
The Alamo
The Salt of the Earth
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Post by bravomailer on Jul 30, 2017 17:45:08 GMT
Whenever a politician, or a gaggle of them, face a scandal, I think of this scene from Blazing Saddles:
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Post by OldAussie on Jul 30, 2017 20:34:13 GMT
koskiewicz - The Alamo
Yes. My favourite scene from the movie.
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